Mail addressed to military and diplomatic post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions of mailing regarding content, preparation, and handling. The APO/FPO/DPO table below outlines these conditions by APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Codes™ through the use of footnoted mailing restrictions codes (see the Restrictions page fol­lowing the table).

A. Securities, currency, or precious metals in their raw, unmanufactured state are prohibited. Official shipments are exempt from this restriction.

A1. Mail addressed to “Any Servicemember,” or similar wording such as “Any Soldier,” “Sailor,” “Airman,” or “Marine”; “Military Mail”; etc., is prohib­ited. Mail must be addressed to an individual or job title such as “Com­mander,” “Commanding Officer,” etc.

A2. APO/FPO/DPO addresses shall not include a city and/or country name.

B. Regardless of mail class, a customs declaration (PS Form 2976 or, if the customer prefers, PS Form 2976-A) is required for all items weighing 16 ounces or more or any item (regardless of weight) containing potentially duti­able mail contents (e.g., merchandise or goods) addressed to or from an APO, FPO, or DPO ZIP Code. No customs form is required for items weigh­ing less than 16 ounces when the contents are not potentially dutiable (e.g., documents). The surface area of the address side of the mailpiece must be large enough to contain the applicable customs declaration. The following exceptions apply:

n Known mailers are exempt from providing customs documentation on non-dutiable letters or printed matter. (A known mailer is a busi­ness mailer who enters volume mailings through a business mail entry unit (BMEU) or other bulk mail acceptance location, pays post­age through an advance deposit account, uses a permit imprint for postage payment, and submits a completed postage statement at the time of entry that certifies that the mailpieces contain no danger­ous materials that are prohibited by postal regulations.)

E. Medicines (prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, and supple­ments) are prohibited when mailed to individuals for human or animal use. This prohibition does not apply when medicines are sent as official mail only between specifically designated agencies such as pharmaceutical distribu­tors, hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.

E1. Medicines or vaccines not conforming to French laws are prohibited.

E2. Any matter depicting nude or seminude persons, pornographic or sexual items, or nonauthorized political materials is prohibited. Although reli­gious materials contrary to the Islamic faith are prohibited in bulk quantities, items for the personal use of the addressee are permissible.

F. Firearms of any type are prohibited in all classes of mail. See defini­tions of firearms in DMM 601.12.1.1. This restriction does not apply to fire­arms mailed to or by official U.S. government agencies. The restriction for mail to this APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Code does not apply to firearms mailed from this APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Code, provided ATF and USPS regulations are met. Antique firearms are a separate category defined in DMM 601.12.1.1h and ATF regulations; they do not require an ATF form.

F1. Privately owned weapons addressed to an individual are prohibited in any class of mail.

F2. Importation of firearms is restricted to one shotgun and one single shot.22 caliber rifle per individual.

G. Only letters, flats, and Periodicals are authorized. Parcels of any class are prohibited.

K. Mail that includes in the address the words, “Dependent Mail Sec­tion,” may consist only of letter mail, newspapers, magazines, and books. No parcel of any class containing any other matter may be mailed to the Dependent Mail section. This restriction does not apply if the address does not include the words “Dependent Mail Section.”

T. Mailings of case lots of food and supplemental household shipments must be approved by the sender’s parent agency prior to mailing.

U. Parcels must weigh less than 16 ounces when addressed to Box R. This restriction does not apply to mail endorsed “Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped.”

U1. Mail is limited to First-Class Mail weighing 13 ounces or less when addressed to Box R. This restriction does not apply to mail endorsed “Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped.” Videotapes are prohibited when addressed to Box R, regardless of weight.

U2. Mail is limited to First-Class Mail letters only when addressed to Box R.

X. Personal mail is limited to First-Class Mail items (to include audio cas­settes and voice tapes) weighing 13 ounces or less. This limitation does not apply to official mail.

Y. Mail is limited to First-Class and Priority Mail items only. All Periodi­cals, Standard Mail items, and Package Services items (including SAM and PAL) are not authorized. This restriction also applies to official mail.